A Greek judicial council has unanimously ruled that key figures from Olympiacos FC, one of Greece’s most prominent soccer clubs, must stand trial on misdemeanor charges linked to a deadly incident of hooligan violence.
The decision targets club president Vangelis Marinakis, vice president and Piraeus mayor Yiannis Moralis, CEO Dimitris Agrafiotis, and vice presidents Kostas Karapapas and Michalis Kountouris. They are accused of financing and supporting a criminal organisation tied to an attack in the Piraeus suburb of Renti, which resulted in the death of police officer Giorgos Lyggeridis in 2023.
The ruling, however, acquitted nine other defendants, including the alleged perpetrator of the officer’s murder, whose separate trial is currently underway in Piraeus. Despite the ongoing litigation, Olympiacos FC (PAE Olympiacos) has fiercely rejected the charges against its leadership, unleashing a scathing attack on the Greek government and judicial system.
In a fiery statement, the club denounced the judicial council’s referral as a “political persecution” targeting its president and administration. Olympiacos claims the months-long process is a “disgrace to democracy” in a nation that presents itself as a modern European state. The club insists the misdemeanor charges—alleging support for a criminal group—are baseless, lacking “even a single piece of real evidence, confession, or dialogue.”
Olympiacos accuses the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of orchestrating a fabricated case built on “conspiracy theories” and “illogical leaps.” Among the accusations is the claim that the club provided dozens of invitations to fans—a common practice across Greek soccer, Olympiacos argues, and one it also extends to politicians, judges, and police—yet no evidence links these recipients to illegal acts. The club also slams the prosecution for targeting a statement it issued after a match against Volos, which allegedly “incited the crowd.” Olympiacos notes this statement initially drew no legal scrutiny but was later “weaponized” months after the fact.
The club finds it absurd that its leadership is being prosecuted for engaging with supporters, sarcastically asking if any team’s administration avoids such interactions. It cites a specific example: a meeting with fans on February 8 at Karaiskakis Stadium during a memorial for the Gate 7 tragedy, which claimed 21 lives in 1981. Olympiacos alleges the prosecution branded its entire fanbase an “organised crime group” before concluding the investigation.
Pointing to alleged irregularities, Olympiacos highlights a police report that vaguely stated “it cannot be ruled out” that the club’s leadership was involved, rather than presenting solid evidence. The club names controversial figures tied to the probe, including an officer dubbed “Vangelitsa of EYP,” linked to a wiretapping scandal, and Christologlou, head of the YAVAX police unit. The latter is accused of failing to stop hundreds of Croatian neo-Nazis who traveled from Zagreb to Athens to kill AEK fan Michalis Katsouris in 2023, yet faced no repercussions. Olympiacos claims these officials disproportionately target its supporters while ignoring similar incidents, such as Panathinaikos fans attacking a Tempi disaster protest with Molotov cocktails.
Olympiacos insists neither it nor its amateur sports branch is connected to the charges—a fact it says is widely recognized. Notably, Olympiacos BC (the club’s basketball arm) was excluded from the indictment for unclear reasons. The club also notes its amateur leadership had requested a match postponement due to its proximity to the anniversary of Alexandros Grigoropoulos’ 2008 murder—a time of heightened tension—but authorities pressed ahead.
Accusing the Mitsotakis government of colluding with “favored” media to prejudge the case, Olympiacos vows to expose the truth once the “anti-democratic” process ends. The club plans legal action in Greece and Europe against those it holds responsible for what it calls an “unthinkable conspiracy” against its leadership and fans.
In a defiant closing, Olympiacos warns that the “panicked” prime minister, his government, and their media allies now stand “exposed” before its millions of supporters and every thinking Greek. “The Olympiacos family begins a fight for the truth today,” the statement declares, cautioning those behind the “dark affair” that they underestimated the club’s power. “They should have known what Olympiacos is before standing naked and dwarfed before our fans.”
(Source: To Vima)